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Question: Nico, it’s always the number one priority of every driver to beat your team mate. You are up against a seven-time champion. How do you see your season?
Nico Rosberg: First of all I think it’s important to say that we are racing together for Mercedes GP Petronas and it’s also important that we achieve success for the team. And then obviously it’s important for me as a driver to beat my team mate, so definitely it’s going to be a big challenge this year. It’s not going to be too easy. But I’m confident that I will be strong this year, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Anyway, for me it’s a fantastic opportunity to have Michael as a team mate. I look forward to working with him. I’m sure we will work well together. Definitely he has a lot of experience so there’s a few things that I will be able to pick up from him.
Question: A lot of people are expecting you to fight for the championship again. How realistic is this?
Michael Schumacher :I think we have everything it takes to do it. It’s one thing to have all the ingredients to be able to cook it up, but it’s another thing to have a good result. I believe with the experience Ross (Brawn) has, with what we did last year, having Mercedes as the team itself, with all the experience and the knowhow and the quality they have, on top of myself, then I’m sorry but there’s only one target. But it’s one thing to have a target and another thing to achieve it.
Question: Can you tell us a bit about your last concerns regarding next week and your first test in a Formula One car? Will everything be okay for you . Are you sure?
Michael Schumacher :Yes, I am sure. I am hot. Remember we have started to discuss this in November and then you have to wait until the beginning of February. I was used to starting at the beginning of January - you usually used to test in the wintertime. It’s just taking far too long to get going and we can’t wait for next week. I have no issues with the neck. I’ve done the GP2 test and lots of preparation in the winter, lots of checks to make sure all is good.
Question: Nico and Michael, what would it mean for both of you to take a place as a part of Mercedes’ F1 history?
Michael Schumacher :Well, there is some history of myself in here, during the ‘90s. Naturally we look forward to have the closing loop some time in the future, with cars we have driven and which hopefully have success. That is naturally the aim.
Nico Rosberg: For me, I walked through the museum a couple of weeks ago and I was just amazed. The history of Mercedes is just amazing. The first Mercedes was a race car itself. As a German it’s just very special to driver a silver arrow and it’s going to be a great year.
Question: When you learned that Michael was going to be your team mate, how much reassurance did you have to seek from the likes of Norbert (Haug), and Ross and Nick (Fry), that you wouldn’t just become a number two driver?
Nico Rosberg: Of course there was a little bit of doubt in me, because Michael has a very good relationship with Ross and all that. But to be very honest, recently I had a lot of discussions with Norbert and Ross and I’m very, very confident and comfortable that we will both have the same opportunities, same car, same everything. So that’s fantastic. I think it’s in the race philosophy of Mercedes, and the way Ross wants to do it, so that’s the way it’s going to be.
Question: Michael, do you think it’s looking tougher than in the years before your retirement, with Vettel coming on strong and Hamilton, and other drivers?
Michael Schumacher :I think the point is that you have probably, compared to the past, one team against which you had to compete, to two or three teams like now. But in the end it’s going to be most likely one that you have to pinpoint and that you have to focus on. Last year I know it was different, but it’s probably an exception. It might be, again, but it doesn’t really matter.
Question: Signing for Mercedes-Benz means for you to come back home. But doesn’t it feel a bit strange not to wear a red shirt?
Michael Schumacher :It is simply the fact that quite a lot of my history and part of my heart is red. You cannot forget or deny all of the good moments we have had together. And I really look forward to again seeing some of my friends who I have been together with for so long. I still have regular contact, and Stefano (Domenicali) every so often phones me up, and he just invited me for the skiing week which is a very private thing that we do amongst the Ferrari family. So, I am still friends with them and this will never stop. We will compete, yes, but it doesn’t mean that we have to forget anything that happened in the past.
Question: Nico, a lot of the media attention is on Michael Schumacher. Do you see this as a benefit to you because you can just get on quietly with your job?
Nico Rosberg: Of course from one side, yes. Obviously it is also demanding to be present in the media, and to do the work, and always be polite and things like that. Sometimes it can get demanding, so from that side, it is a good thing for me that I can concentrate a bit more on the racing, working with the team and hopefully on winning races.
Question: When you assess your situation as a whole, is it a case of proving that age is no barrier to success?
Michael Schumacher : No. I have nothing to prove to anyone about my age. I just have to prove to myself that I am obviously still able. But the main reason I am doing this is because I am thrilled about it. I feel big excitement to just drive and compete at the highest level of motorsport. I have been doing it for two or three years in go-karts, and other sections, which was great. But now I say why not do something at a higher level.
